An investigation on individual activities in the metal sector from the periods of 1990-2002 and 2003-2017

The aim of this research is to examine the progress of collective bargaining agreements signed between trade unions and employers in the metal sector over the years and to identify the positive and negative consequences of trade union activities on contracts and workers. In this context, contracts signed with the Turkish Metal-MESS, Kardemir-Steel Business and Erdemir-Türk Metal in the metal sector between 1990 and 1717 were taken as the basis. In the metal sector with 1,519,268 employees, 273,194 union members reached contracts covering 141,000 people (58%) and the rights won and lost by workers were examined using content analysis method. The survey was conducted over two periods, from 1990-2002 and 2003-2017, due to the implementation of the new labor law in 2003. During the 1990-2002 period, a total of 1195 strikes took place in the working life and positive regulations such as positive discrimination in wages and pensions, working life of women workers were realized. However, out-of-scope implementation has expanded, sub-employability has become widespread and annual leave has been made available. In the second period of 2003-2017, 216 strikes were realized, wages and benefits increased positively, the health and safety of work, the labor law and the law afterwards became more widespread, and the maternity leave was extended with the influence of the new job. However, the employer was allowed to shift weekly to different days, the overtime was divided into normal and extraordinary work, the workers were forced to participate in the forced labor and the shift adjustment according to the work situation of the female workers was removed from the contracts. Based on the examination of collective agreements signed between workers and employers in the Turkish Metal Sector the findings of this research revealed that various arrangements have been made in favor of the employer, but the developments in favor of the workers remain existingly limited.